Hear Me, Not Just Listen
No one hears. They just listen.
They don’t see what really happens. They choose to ignore and look away.
Look the man in the mirror and face reality.
This is life.
This is life.
Everyone thinks you’re fine.
They believe that the past is the past.
It is in some sense, but the history is not in the past.
It is still a reality for some, like me.
People believe lynching, slavery, and oppression are gone.
But it is not.
I live every day like the rest, I go to school and do my work.
But still mental strangling, bondage from work, and oppression by society are still prevalent.
People don’t believe it is true or that it happens,
But it does.
Ever had a guy say I like you but I can’t date you?
Oh, really why? Because of your race.
Or you’re pretty for a black girl? What does that even mean? Aren’t we all pretty?
Or you’re not like other black girls? Is that good or bad? I don’t know.
It is hard being African American in a world of Caucasian.
Slim.
Beauty.
Riches.
All I hear.
Something every time I achieve, someone knocks me down and puts me out.
Everyone believes in getting those you have to be white or rich.
I am neither but I know that that is not true.
These days no one works hard.
Get rich quick scheme. Mommy and Daddy have me if I fail.
Very few remember what working hard is.
Climbing the backs of others, regardless of who you hurt.
It doesn’t matter as long as white is on the top.
Look over the qualified and skip to the race you “think” is like you.
I thought this was a changed world.
This world is no “better” than ours 50 years ago.
We still have segregation, racism, discrimination.
That is never going away. Trust me.
Everyone wants to be black, but nobody wants to be black.
School.
A place of freedom. A place of expression. A place to be you.
Going to school and feeling all these are restricted and ask yourself has America really changed?
And still everyone wonders why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?
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